Govt eyes 2nd bridge to peninsula

Written by Kay Kimsong

Friday, 15 May 2009 Phnom Penh Post

THE government wants to build a second bridge north of the existing Japanese-Cambodian Friendship Bridge in Phnom Penh, it said Thursday. The Minister of Public Works and Transport, Tram Iv Tek, said a Korean firm was close to completing a feasibility study. "The study on the building cost and fee structure for users is almost finished," the minister said during the handover of 57 buoys by the Mekong River Commission on Thursday to be used to improve river navigation. "They are not yet sure when they will start to build." He added that the bridge would cost between US$50 million to $80 million. Two bridges are currently under construction on the Tonle Sap river, at Prek Phnov and Prek Kdam in Kandal province. A third bridge is being built at Prek Tamak over the Mekong. Tram Iv Tek also announced that Japan had approved enlarging the bridge under construction at Neak Leung. The redesigned structure will be 13 metres wide and 37.5 metres high, allowing medium-sized ships of 10,000 tonnes to pass underneath. He said the government was looking for a $100 million loan from Japan to pay for the structure. He said the government also wanted to build new bridges in Takhmau town in Kandal province, and at Stung Treng in north Cambodia to link Stung Treng with Preah Vihear province. So Nguon, co-chairman of the government-private sector transport working group, said bridge-building would boost trade. "Bridges, roads and waterways are essential - we need cheaper and faster services," he said.